Mad rush: Holiday traffic begins with dozens of crashes, highway suicide

The holiday weekend traffic began with a tragedy when a women jumped to her death from an I-95 overpass.

DAVIE

Davie stuck with unwanted bridge; want to buy it?

Davie has found itself stuck with an unwanted bridge. Now the Town Council hopes to sell it.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

Lesbian, 18, rejects plea deal that would have kept her off sex-offenders registry; case headed to trial

A lesbian, 18, rejects a plea deal after being charged with having sex with a younger schoolmate. 1369443959

Key Biscayne's Cape Florida makes Top 10 beaches list

This may be hard to believe in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, but an annual list of the best beaches in the country has a New York beach ranked No. 1.

EDUCATION

FCAT scores show jump in writing

Fourth-graders excelled in this year’s writing test, but the good news came with some caveats. 1369452659

Former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina pleads not guilty to tax evasion

Former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina pleaded not guilty to charges that he cheated on his tax returns and lied to federal agents about loans to a convicted Ponzi schemer.

Million-dollar Caplow Children’s Prize looks for plan to save children’s lives

The million-dollar Caplow Children’s Prize hopes to find and finance a plan to save the lives of children under the age of 5.

FDOT: Fix for design goof at new Miami airport central train station to cost millions, delay opening

Fixing an engineering error that left train platforms too short at the new station under construction at Miami International Airport’s transportation hub will cost millions of dollars and could delay opening day by a year, to 2015, state officials said.

Child welfare

Probe into Kendall boy’s death uncovers lie by DCF investigator

DCF says its investigator falsified a substance abuse screening of a Kendall mom. Her son later died in a sweltering car.

Historic Hampton House Motel, part of Miami’s black history, breaks ground on restoration project

The nearly $6 million project will restore the Brownsville motel to the look of its heyday, when its restaurant and jazz club were the “in spot’’ for performers and black Miamians who were not allowed into Miami Beach and Miami hotels.

Trayvon Martin case

Weed, fights and guns: Trayvon Martin’s text messages released

Murder defendant George Zimmerman’s lawyers Thursday released texts from Travyon Martin’s phone that it plans to place into evidence. A judge will decide if they are relevant.

Landlord-tenant dispute in Hialeah turns deadly

Hialeah police have questioned and released a man who reportedly shot and killed his former tenant Thursday morning.

CUBA

Cubans more optimistic about Castro’s economic changes

Cubans appear to be growing more optimistic about ruler Raul Castro’s economic reforms and large majorities favor direct elections of their president but say the government is repressive, according to a poll made public Thursday.

TRAVEL

Summer travel: More crowds — and, for fliers, fees

Experts are forecasting a booming summer, with the threat of furlough-related delays over and gas prices lower than last year.